Chapter 368 : Blooming Only for You
Ling Ye glanced at the two women chatting cheerfully. For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that all these young women circling around her mom seemed to harbor ulterior motives. Why was it like this? She was supposed to be first in her mom’s heart!
Feeling a bit exasperated, Ling Ye clung to her mother’s arm and began rocking it gently. “Mom, where are we going this afternoon? It’s so boring just sitting here!”
To be honest, ever since they finished lunch, they’d just been sitting around while the adults talked about topics she couldn’t follow. It was dull beyond belief.
“This afternoon...” Ling Ning started, pausing to glance at Ye Xuan. After seeing Ye Xuan shake her head subtly, Ling Ning continued with a bright smile, “How about we head to the electronics market?”
“The electronics market? What for?” Ling Ye asked, her head tilting curiously.
“For a new phone, of course!” Ling Ning said with a grin. “Your current phone has been giving you trouble, right? Since you’ve always said you don’t want to replace it because I gave it to you, it must be sentimental. But if I get you a new one, you won’t have to feel guilty about it anymore, right?”
Ling Ye’s face lit up in delight, and she immediately threw her arms around her mother, planting a big kiss on her cheek.
Sitting across from them, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. She wanted to kiss Ling Ning, too! If kissing her cheek was out of the question... her long legs would work just fine.
“Alright, alright,” Ling Ning said, gently prying her daughter off. “You’re not a little kid anymore, Ye Ye. You’ll be starting middle school soon!”
“I only act this way around you, Mom,” Ling Ye muttered under her breath. Honestly, she behaved completely differently at school. But at home, it was worth playing the part of a little kid—it made her mom happy, and it gave her an excuse to get cuddles and attention.
With their afternoon plans decided, the three left the fast-food restaurant and headed to the nearby subway station, taking a train to the bustling electronics market.
As they walked through the lively streets, Ling Ning’s face softened with nostalgia. She had only been to this market twice before—once when she bought her very first phone and a second time for another phone purchase. It was funny to think her third visit was for the same reason.
Even though it had been years, she still remembered the way. Leading the group, she stopped in front of a “Banana” store and turned to Ling Ye. “Ye Ye, would you like the newest model, the ‘Banana 7’?”
“Absolutely not!” Ling Ye rejected the idea without hesitation.
Ling Ning blinked in surprise. The “Banana 7” was widely considered an excellent phone, popular among many of her friends. Its performance was great, and it didn’t bombard users with ads. She couldn’t understand why Ling Ye wouldn’t want it.
“Mom, you do know that mobile games are split into ‘Android’ and ‘iOS,’ right?”
The moment Ling Ye said that, Ling Ning understood. It reminded her of her past life, when once she started playing games on her “Apple” phone, she stuck with the brand ever since.
“Well, if you don’t want the ‘Banana 7,’ let’s keep looking,” Ling Ning said, leading them to another store—a place her friend Zhou Xiaoxiao had taken her before.
Ignoring the more unconventional models, Ling Ning made a beeline for the “Tech Pro” section, where she had bought her first phone years ago.
“Hello, ma’am. Are you looking to buy a phone today?” the store assistant greeted her warmly.
“Yes, please. Could you recommend some high-end models?”
Hearing the request for premium devices, the store assistant’s smile brightened even more. She led them to another display counter filled with sleek phones that also bore hefty price tags.
“These are our high-end models from ‘Tech Pro.’ Feel free to try them out,” the assistant said, gesturing to the selection.
Ling Ning picked up one of the phones and tested its features. It felt much better than the phone she currently used.
Just then, she felt a tug on her skirt. Turning around, she saw Ling Ye pointing eagerly at two phones.
Following her daughter’s gaze, Ling Ning saw two models—one red and one blue. The matching colors instantly gave off a certain “paired” vibe, reminiscent of the age-old “red versus blue” rivalry.
“Ye Ye, do you want one of these?”
Ling Ye nodded enthusiastically. She had fallen in love with the phone at first sight.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the assistant interjected apologetically. “These are our newest ‘Tech Pro-666’ models, but they’re sold exclusively as a set because they’re couple phones.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take both,” Ling Ning said decisively.
If her daughter wanted it, there was no way she would refuse. Plus, buying both phones came with a discount, and she could use one to replace her old phone.
Ling Ye was ecstatic, holding her new phone tightly as she thought to herself, “I have a couple’s phone with Mom!”
The store assistant was surprised by how quickly Ling Ning agreed to buy both phones, but soon her smile returned. She enthusiastically explained the unique features of the phones and even offered to set them up with a shared phone plan for added benefits.
“Ling Ning, you’re so good to your daughter,” Ye Xuan said softly.
“Of course! She’s my daughter. If I’m not good to her, who else would I be good to?” Ling Ning replied with a smile.
“By the way, Ye Xuan,” Ling Ning said suddenly. “You look so beautiful when you smile. Why don’t you do it more often? You should smile more!”
Ye Xuan gazed deeply at Ling Ning. “So... do you like my smile, Ling Ning?”
“Of course I do,” Ling Ning replied without hesitation.
“I see...”
With that, Ye Xuan flashed a radiant smile. It was the first time Ling Ning had seen her smile like this, and it was so breathtaking that she felt momentarily dazed.
“My smile... will bloom only for you, Ling Ning.”
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Author’s Note:
The salted fish feels completely out of it. I actually fell asleep while writing this afternoon. I guess I need to stop staying up late these days.